# What sitcom had a lot of child actors that were regulars go on to success as actors . Actors had to be minors to count, not playing minors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [May 24, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746 "2025-05-24T13:10:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/1 "2025-05-24T13:10:17Z")
So **Happy Days** does not count except for Joanie & Chachi. **Andy Griffith Show** does count and it is 1 for 1 on success. **Family Ties** , only Mallory would count, Michael J. Fox was 21 when Family Ties started. On **Partridge Family** ; David Cassidy was 20, Susan Dey was 18 so neither count. **The 70s Show** only Milas Kunis was under 18, so they’re 1 for 1. If **Freaks and Geeks** counts as a sitcom, it probably wins. The 3 younger kids were under 18 and all successful and still working as actors. [John Francis Daley](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0197855/?ref_=tt_cst_t_1), [Samm Levine](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0505949/?ref_=tt_cst_t_3) & [Martin Starr](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0771414/?ref_=tt_cst_t_6). The older kids have done great overall, but don’t count, even Seth Rogan was 19. So what sitcom child actors where successful as **non-child actors** as a high percentage. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/2 "2025-05-24T13:37:20Z")
Full House? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/3 "2025-05-24T13:38:06Z")
Show your work please? Any success? Were they actually under 18? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/4 "2025-05-24T13:54:02Z")
_Captain Video and his Video Rangers._ Not a sitcom, but Don Hastings was 14 when it started and then was on TV soap operas (notably _As the World Turns_) as a regular for over 50 years. Neil Patrick Harris was 16 when _Doogie Howser_ started on the air. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/5 "2025-05-24T14:01:28Z")
Second word of the title, please keep this to sitcoms. NPH is a good example, were their other kids on the show? I feel like he had a neighborhood friend. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/6 "2025-05-24T14:08:17Z")
NM I read the OP wrong and gave a wrong answer. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/7 "2025-05-24T14:14:34Z")
Neal Patrick Harris was 16 when Doogie Howser began. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/8 "2025-05-24T14:17:08Z")
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Definitely unfer 18. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/9 "2025-05-24T14:23:37Z")
Patty Duke was 16 when the Patty Duke Show began. Arguably, she was already a successful actor and did not have to ‘go on to success’. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/10 "2025-05-24T14:24:18Z")
That works though. I think Sally Field was 16 or so for Gidget, so she would be an strong addition. I’m seeing 17, so just barely qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/11 "2025-05-24T14:25:44Z")
Sara Gilbert started on Roseanne at something like age 13 or 14. Lecy Goranson was only a little older. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/12 "2025-05-24T14:30:29Z")
I think Sara counts and Lecy doesn’t. She has really only played the one character. > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Definitely unfer 18. Did either of them work as adults? I feel like both did very little to nothing and are happy being very wealthy. I think the middle child on the show went on to star in a Detective Show. If I’m right, she would count. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/13 "2025-05-24T14:44:48Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Did either of them work as adults? I feel like both did very little to nothing and are happy being very wealthy. Not much in the way of entertainment, but you realize they built a $1B fashion brand that they started before they turned 18? ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/14 "2025-05-24T14:48:14Z")
Mackenzie Phillips, who had appeared in _American Graffiti_ a few years earlier, was sixteen when _One Day at a Time_ made its debut in 1975. Valerie Bertinelli, who was born in 1960, had only one screen credit (an appearance on _Apple’s Way_) before being cast as Barbara Cooper. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/15 "2025-05-24T14:52:31Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > are happy being very wealthy. Indeed, I do. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/16 "2025-05-24T14:52:45Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I think Sara counts and Lecy doesn’t. She has really only played the one character. > > > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > > > Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Definitely unfer 18. > > Did either of them work as adults? I feel like both did very little to nothing and are happy being very wealthy. You didn’t didn’t specify ‘success as an actor’ though. However it is something of a borderline case I think as their financial success outside of acting started when the show was still on. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/17 "2025-05-24T14:53:20Z")
Cripes, I thought I covered that. I’ll append the title. I tried to cover the specifics, and missed that part, thank you for the correction. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/18 "2025-05-24T15:34:03Z")
Maybe The Cosby Show? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/19 "2025-05-24T16:04:47Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > The Cosby Show A pretty good example, even if the title actor is now radioactive. Lisa Bonet, Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Raven-Symone were all minors when they first appeared on the show (Bonet, the oldest, was 16 when the show premiered), and all have had reasonably successful careers as adult actors. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/20 "2025-05-24T16:10:38Z")
The Wonder Years(?): Fred Savage - still acting Danica McKellar - several dozen Hallmark Xmas movies Jason Hervey - still acting Probably others, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen it [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746.md?page=2)